Sixth-year senior Jordan Hall answers the call for Ohio State

Aug. 31, 2013

Written by

Larry Phillips

CentralOhio.com

COLUMBUS — Jordan Hall spent last season injured and largely forgotten, sentenced to the shadows while his teammates ran off a 12-0 season.

On Saturday Hall’s performance thrust his name back into the spotlight. The fifth-year senior ran for a career-high 162 yards and two touchdowns to help the second-ranked Buckeyes hold off surprisingly stubborn Buffalo 40-20 in the season opener at Ohio Stadium.

“It was fun to finally go out and hit someone else,” said Hall, who earned an extra year of eligibility after injury sidelined him in 2012. “I was just ready to be back on the field.

“Coach (Tom) Herman said he was going to give me the ball quite a bit so I had to try to keep myself calm. I couldn’t sleep last night.”

His play awakened Ohio State, which seemed to fall asleep offensively after roaring to a 23-0 first-quarter bulge.

Hall’s two touchdowns were both runs up the middle that broke wide open, one for a career-long 49 yards and another for 37 yards. He was nearly untouched on both carries.

“When I saw the holes, I was like, wow,” Hall said. “I didn’t know if they messed up or our OL just did what they do.”

Hall was originally slotted as a hybrid, or H-back. His smallish frame, 5-foot-9, 191 pounds, doesn’t fit the mold of pounding the ball between the tackles. But with the suspensions of Carlos Hyde and Rod Smith, Hall was the best option in the backfield.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a day like this (at Ohio State),” Hall said. “I’m going to be ready. Wherever they put me.”

Coming into the game there was a lot of talk about playing time for other backs, including Warren Ball, Brionte Dunn and freshman Ezekiel Elliott. But Buffalo capitalized on a couple of turnovers, kept the game close, and didn’t allow the depth to be tested.

Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer leaned on an experienced hand to swerve his team out of harm’s way. It was no problem for Hall.

“I was just trying to get all I could while I was in there,” Hall said.

The OSU staff has talked at length about playing the Pennsylvania native at the H back, someone who lines up as a running back or in the slot, with the ability to cut off the edge on a quick running play or break into a pass pattern downfield.

That idea hasn’t changed, but it had to wait at least a week.

“I think (Jordan) will be fine. I think he gives us that little bit of a hybrid guy that can do both. That was kind of the plan with him,” Meyer said. “So once we have a full stable back, then he’s still going to be certainly involved. And to be able to line up at receiver and motion in and run the ball, that’s a good weapon to have.”